Device for measuring, indicating and adding time increments



Feb. 19, 1963 J. A. M. TAYLOR 3,073,413

DEVICE FOR MEASURING, INDICATING AND ADDING TIME INCREMENTS Filed 001' 24, 1960 INVENTOR U'OHN A.M. TAYLOR ATTORNEY nited States Patent fifice 3,078,413 Patented Feb. 19, 1963 DEVICE FOR MEASURING, INDECATING AND ADDING TIME INCREMENTS John Alfred Major Taylor, 90 Manor Drive, Hinchley Wood, Esher, England Filed Get. 24, 196i), Ser. No. 64,420 Claims priority, application Great Britain Dec. 1, 1959 4 Claims. (Cl. 324-458) This invention relates to a device for measuring, indicating and adding time increments, and has for its object to provide for recording on a clock, dial, tape or chart the time achieved or saved by an operator in a machine tool or like manufacturing.operation within the actual time set by the time study engineer.

Machine tool operations for production working are time according to a reasonable speed of which an average operator is capable, and'tothe timed speed there is added suitable allowancesfordelay-s and setting up, the final time fixed being that-uponwhich an operator can earn a bonus if his rate of working is higher than that set. For this purpose the operator is usually called upon to fill in time sheets for each complete operation, and at the end of the day it is necessary to make certain calculations to arrive at the amount of saved time on which bonus is due.

The device, according to the invention, is designed to enable the bonus increments to be recorded as they are obtained, and to be visible in front of an operator to encourage him to beat the set time, thus stimulating production-and contributing to statf contentment, as the bonuses can be accurately recorded by the production engineer with the full co-operation of the machine operator.

According to the invention, a device for measuring and recording bonus and like time increments comprises a main time storage engine-which may be mechanical, electrical or electronic in character-and a pair of time counters adapted to be preset to measure a required time interval, and means whereby operation starting signals operate the counters alternately, and the time differences between the signals and the pre-set time intervals on the counters are stored on the said engine.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and carried into eilect, one embodiment thereof by way of example, will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing showing a typical circuit arrangement.

In referring to Roderic equipment, herein, this is merely by way of example and explanation of standard items which are utilised by the invention to produce the efiect required. Equivalent items of different manufacture or design can be used. The Rodene equipment is made by the Roderic Electrical Company Limited of Isleworth, Middlesex, England, and details of the items referred to are to be found in the current brochure entitled Rodene Process Timersi In the drawing the main storage engine is a clock faced unit MSE having a hand or hands 1 driven by forward and reverse motorsPM and RM respectively, which may be of the Rodene self-clutching type 2000. In a typical case the indication might be in hours and minutes; thus there might be two hands 1 as shown, one Working over calibrations from minus one hour to plus five hours spread around 360 degrees, and the other hand might perform one revolution in six hours of continuous drive with calibrations in tenths of an hour or to a minute. The time counters, or rate setting timers, are herein designated TA and TB respectively, and are presentable to required operational times as determined by the time study engineer in collaboration with the machine operator. Such timers may operate on the principle of the Rodene 25 series, but for convenience in setting they may both be set via gears from one dial. Each timer has a single contact (TA or TB) which opens after the timer has run the pre-set period, the timer then resetting automatically. The setting ran e for the timers could conveniently be 0-5 minutes.

A work unit operating switch S1, S2 is operated manually or automatically at the end of each completed work period, i.e., when a job is completed, and gives a short operation pulse to one, of two control relays A and B. This operating switch changes over from one relay to the other in successive operations, and may take any suitable form. Thus it may-operate on the alternate push method shown, closing S1 or $2 contact in the appropriate changeover position.

In another form there may be employed a single push switch of the automobile light-dipping type which changes over a contact each time it is depressed, to select the control relaysalternately, the arrangement being such that further pressure of the push actuator would energise the relay selected.

In still another form the operating switch may comprise an on/ott switch which in the on position first steps a rotary relaysuch as the Rodene type 700, and then provides a pulse, for example, by means of a slugged relay or a mecury impulse switch.

Circuit Explanation Assume that the rate setting timers TA and TB are both set to a particular rate period, for example, sixty seconds with the storage clock M'SE at zero.

At the begining of the first work period the operating switch contact Si-is closed and completes a circuit from the power supply lines over relay A which energises and locks up over its contact A1 and the normally closed contact TAl of timer TA, at the same time completing the operating circuit for the timer TA over these contacts. Operation of the relay A also closes its contact A2 to make ready a bonus gained circuit including a normally open contact B2 of relay B/3 and the forward drive motor PM of the storage clock MSE. In addition at its con tact A3 the relay A opens a bonus lost circuit including the normally closed contact B3 of relay B and the reverse drive motor RM of the clock MSE.

At the end of the pro-set rate period, the timer opens at its contact TAi the locking circuit of relay A which thus releases while the timer resets.

At the commencement of the next Work operating cycle, operating switch contacts S2 are closed to cause the timer TB to run for the pro-set rate period and perform a sequence of operations similar to that for the timer TA, the making ready of the bonus gained and bonus lost" circuits being in this instance controlled by the closing of relay contact B2 and the opening of relay contact 33 respectively.

Thus in any pro-set rate cycle, the bonus clock can be set to record gained or lost time as appropriate. If, in this instance for example, the operator completes the first job in fifty seconds, there i a bonus time gained of 10 seconds. This means that the relay B has been operated ltl'seconds early, and thus both timers TA and TB will be running together for this bonus period. In con sequence the bonus gained circuit is closed over closed contacts A2 and B2, so that the forward drive motor PM causes the clock MSE to register the 10 seconds bonus time. As will be evident at the end of this bonus period, the timer TA releases relay A, which thereby opens the bonus gained circuit at its contact A2. The timer TB continues to run until it releases at the end of the pre-set rate period, and thereby stops the clock, if this has been started again at contact A2, which means that relay A has operated early due to bonus time having been gained.

If when one of the relays is operated (A for example) the operator takes more than the specified rate period of 60 seconds in the instance quoted for the operationsay, 65 secondswhich means 5 seconds lost, relay A will be released by timer TA at contact TAl before relay B is operated, and then the bonus lost circuit will be completed over contacts A3 and B3 to energise reverse motor RM which drives the bonus clock in the negative direction. Thus, for example, it seconds were gained on one operation, and the next operation lost 5 seconds, the clock would show a positive bonus of five seconds.

Indicator lights or audible indicators IF and IR may be connected across the clock motors FM and RM respectively to advise the operator of the state of his bonus position-whether it is being gained or lost.

There may also be associated with the switch S1, S2 a counter device which operates automatically to indicate that the switch is operated only once for each job, or this counter may be adapted to lock the switch until the job has been completed.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the two timers provide a means of indicating odd and even numbered jobs, since timer A runs on the odd numbers if it starts first, and timer B on the even numbers.

Bonus is gained while both timers are running and is lost while both are tie-energised. I

The main storage clock MSE, by means of a dial, a tape or a chart, may indicate the time differences stored thereby both individually and in summation, and is or any suitable type.

The timers continue to operate alternately while bonus is earned. and the main storage clock shows the total bonus time and may indicate individual bonus times over a given series of machine operations.

It will be appreciated that the starting signals for the pre-set counters or timers TA, TB may be initiated automatically by the machine (instead of by the operator) as it starts a working cycle.

The device facilitates the starting up of a bonus system on any particular machine operation, provides for accurate timing of the operations and of the bonus earned, and may be arranged to count the number of artidlles processed, whether they earn bonus or not. At all times the total bonus and the individual bonus for respective operations may be displayed in front of the operator to encourage production output, while simplification of the accounting arrangements is possible, with consequent reduction in working overheads.

Any suitable self-resetting synchronous electric timers may be employed. In the typical one above referred to, and known as the Rodene series, a switch actuator arm is normally held against a pro-set stop by a return spring, and moves counterclockwise when the motor is switched on until the pre-set time is used up, whereupon the motor is cut out and the arm re-set for the next time cycle. The switch actuator arm controls micro-switches for cutting out the motor in the circuit and for starting and stopping the storage clock.

It will be understood that the type of storage engine, or the type of timing devices employed in carrying out the invention may be as required. Further the circuit arrangement for achieving the invention may be adapted to suit requirements. In particular, the method of indicating or counting odd and even operations is an important feature of the invention. The circuit disclosed herein provides this facility as an an inherent part of its 4 design in indicating the bonus position but the timing devices can be adapted to give such refinements as may be desired. Thus they may be basically electronic or mechanical and may include decatrons, by which the respective operations maybe counted.

I claim:

1. A device for measuring and recording bonus and like time movements, comprising a main storage engine, bonus time gained, and bonus time lost circuits connected for operating said engine in positive and negative directions respectively, a pair of timers each pre-settable to measure a required time interval, means to operate the timers alternately by discrete starting signals, control elements to said timers in said circuits arranged such that when both timers are running together the bonus time gained circuit is operative to cause the said engine to opcrate in the positive direction, whereas when neither timer is operative the bonus time lost circuit is completed to efiect operation of the said engine in the negative direction.

2. A device for measuring and recording bonus time increments, comprising a main storage engine having an indicator operable in one direction to show bonus time gained, and in another direction to show bonus time lost,

drive motors in said engine for each of said directions ofindicator movement, timers pre-settabie to measure a required time interval and including control elements in operating circuits for said motors, signal transmitting means operable to start one or other of the tirners, and means including said control elements whereby the drive motors are selectively energised over said operating circuits according as to whether the timers are in the operated or non-operated position when a starting signal is received.

3. A device for measuring bonus time increments, comprising a main storage engine having an indicator operable in opposite directions to show bonus time gained and bonus time lost respectively, drive motors in said engine for each of said directions of indicator movement, timers pre-settable to measure a required time interval, a starting circuit for each timer including a control relay and control contacts of the timer and the relay, separate bonus gained and bonus lost circuits for operating the drive motors including contacts of the two relays in opposite relation, and signal transmitting means to close said starting circuits in succession.

4. A device for measuring bonus time increments, comprising a main storage engine including an indicator movable in prescribed directions to indicate bonus time lost and bonus time gained, timers each pre-settable to measure a prescribed time interval, means operable by successive operation signals to operate the timers and move the indicator if there is a difference between the preset time interval and the signal interval, and means whereby successive starting signals are counted by the timers so as to differentiate between and indicate odd and even operations.

References (Jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,493,627 Grosdoil ian. 3, 1950 2,564,294 Belcher Aug. 14, 1951 2,591,124 Boyan Apr. 1, 1952 2,656,528 Savino 2...; Oct. 29, 1953 2,783,836 Kenline Mar. 5, 1957 

2. A DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND RECORDING BONUS TIME INCREMENTS, COMPRISING A MAIN STORAGE ENGINE HAVING AN INDICATOR OPERABLE IN ONE DIRECTION TO SHOW BONUS TIME GAINED, AND IN ANOTHER DIRECTION TO SHOW BONUS TIME LOST, DRIVE MOTORS IN SAID ENGINE FOR EACH OF SAID DIRECTIONS OF INDICATOR MOVEMENT, TIMERS PRE-SETTABLE TO MEASURE A REQUIRED TIME INTERVAL AND INCLUDING CONTROL ELEMENTS IN OPERATING CIRCUITS FOR SAID MOTORS, SIGNAL TRANSMITTING MEANS OPERABLE TO START ONE OR OTHER OF THE TIMERS, AND MEANS INCLUDING SAID CONTROL ELEMENTS WHEREBY THE DRIVE MOTORS ARE SELECTIVELY ENERGISED OVER SAID OPERATING CIRCUITS ACCORDING AS TO WHETHER THE TIMERS ARE IN THE OPERATED OR NON-OPERATED POSITION WHEN A STARTING SIGNAL IS RECEIVED. 